Efficiency of man-made and/or natural organic based animal manure fertilizers by liberating the bound nutrients (macro and micro) through the use of organic, non-aqueous liquid delivery formulations containing organic poly (organicacids) and/or their salts

Abstract

The present invention relates to improving the efficacy of man-made and/or natural organic-based animal manure fertilizers by administration of an organic solvent formula containing polyorganic acids and/or their salts. The formulation liberates nutrient(s) that are normally bound in the soil as insoluble salts and complexes. These delivery formulations also provide an environmentally sound and inherently safe solvating system that improves diffusion of polyorganic acids to the granule fertilizer. These delivery formulations enable safe storage, transport and subsequent application or blending with solid or liquid fertilizers. The combined formulation and fertilizer can be applied to soil to provide improved efficacy of fertilizer by liberating nutrients bound in the soil for uptake by plant life.

We claim: 
     
       1. A coated solid fertilizer composition comprising a) one or more fertilizers selected from the group consisting of i) fertilizer granules and ii) manure, coated with b) a liquid formulation wherein said liquid formulation comprises i) one or more salts of a polyaspartate polymer, ii) one or more surfactants and iii) a non-aqueous organic liquid solvating system, wherein the organic liquid solvating system comprises one or more members selected from the group consisting of i) one or more protic solvents and ii) one or more aprotic solvents, and wherein the one or more salts of the polyaspartate polymer are the result a reaction of a polyaspartic carboxylic functionality with one or more neutralizing compounds comprising one or more members selected from the group consisting of (1)NaOH, (2) KOH, (3) NH 3 , (4) NH 4 OH, (5) K 2 CO 3 , (6) Na 2 CO 3 , (7) KHCO 3 , and (8) NaHCO 3 . 
     
     
       2. The coated solid fertilizer composition of  claim 1 , wherein the liquid formulation composition further comprises one or more inhibitors selected from the group consisting of one or more nitrification inhibitors and one or more urease inhibitors. 
     
     
       3. The coated solid fertilizer composition of  claim 2 , wherein the one or more urease inhibitors are selected from the group consisting of i) phosphoric triamides, ii) thiophosphoric triamides, and iii) alkylated thiophosphoric triamides, wherein the alkylated thiophosphoric triamides have one or more alkyl groups that independently contain between 1 and 6 carbon atoms. 
     
     
       4. The coated solid fertilizer composition of  claim 3 , wherein the one or more urease inhibitors comprises N-(n-butyl) thiophosphoric triamide. 
     
     
       5. The coated solid fertilizer composition of  claim 2 , wherein the one or more nitrification inhibitors comprise one or more members selected from the group consisting of i) 2-chloro-6-trichloromethyl)pyridine, ii) 4-amino-1, 2, 4-triazole-HCl, iii) 2,4-diamino-6-trichloromethyltriazine CL-1580, iv) dicyandiamide, v) thiourea, vi) 1-mercapto-1,2,4-triazole, vii) 2-amino-4-chloro-6-methylpyrimidine, and viii) 3,4-dimethylpyrazole phosphate. 
     
     
       6. The coated solid fertilizer composition of  claim 2 , wherein the liquid formulation is a solution. 
     
     
       7. The coated solid fertilizer composition of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more protic solvent comprises one or more alkylene glycol alkyl ethers. 
     
     
       8. The coated solid fertilizer composition of  claim 7 , wherein said one or more alkylene glycol alkyl ethers comprise one or more members selected from the group consisting of tripropylene glycol methyl ether and tripropylene glycol butyl ether. 
     
     
       9. The coated solid fertilizer composition of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more surfactants comprise one or more members selected from the group consisting of a) nonionic surfactants, b) anionic surfactants, c) cationic surfactants, d) zwitterionic surfactants, and e) amphoteric surfactants. 
     
     
       10. The coated solid fertilizer composition of  claim 9 , wherein the one or more surfactants comprise one or more members selected from the group a) nonionic surfactants, and b) anionic surfactants. 
     
     
       11. The coated solid fertilizer composition of  claim 1 , wherein the said liquid formulation delivers the one or more salts of the polyaspartate polymer as an even coating to the surface of said one or more fertilizers. 
     
     
       12. The coated solid fertilizer composition of  claim 1 , wherein said one or more salts of the polyaspartate polymer are the result a reaction of a polyaspartic carboxylic functionality with one or more neutralizing agents comprising one or more members selected from the group consisting of a) NH 3  and b) NH 4 OH. 
     
     
       13. The coated solid fertilizer composition of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more aprotic solvents comprises dimethyl sulfoxide. 
     
     
       14. The coated solid fertilizer composition of  claim 1 , wherein the solid fertilizer composition further comprises one or more inhibitors selected from the group consisting of one or more nitrification inhibitors and one or more urease inhibitors. 
     
     
       15. The coated solid fertilizer composition of  claim 1 , wherein the solid fertilizer composition further comprises one or more members selected from the group consisting of: a) buffers, b) fragrance/odor masking agents, c) colorants, d) micro-nutrients, e) drying agents, and f) flow modifiers. 
     
     
       16. The coated solid fertilizer composition of  claim 1 , wherein the liquid formulation further comprises one or more members selected from the group consisting of: a) buffers, b) fragrance/odor masking agents, c) colorants, and d) micro-nutrients. 
     
     
       17. The coated solid fertilizer composition of  claim 1 , wherein said fertilizer granules comprise one or more members selected from the group consisting of a) urea, and b) a phosphate anion with one or more cations selected from the group consisting of i) calcium, ii) magnesium, iii) ammonium iv) manganese, v) zinc, and vi) iron. 
     
     
       18. The coated solid fertilizer composition of  claim 1 , wherein the liquid formulation comprises 5-50 wt. %. of the one or more salts of polyaspartate polymer. 
     
     
       19. The coated solid fertilizer composition of  claim 1 , wherein the liquid formulation composition comprises less than 1% water. 
     
     
       20. The coated solid fertilizer composition of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more salts of polyaspartate comprise a polymer weight of 1500 to 3000 daltons.